Forget what you thought you knew about neutral bathrooms – these days, the colour palette goes beyond your beiges and creams, and designs are laden with texture and packed with personality.
If you are planning a bathroom renovation and prefer a calm, pared-back look, but with plenty of charm, I’ve compiled seven bathroom design ideas and asked experts and designers for their top tips on achieving a neutral haven that’s far from plain and simple.
Read on to get inspired…
Soft and versatile
For a classic bathroom design that looks serene and adjusts to your growing needs, try soothing creams and plush furniture that make for a chic, ‘living’ bathroom. Like in K’Arte Design‘s Chelsea project, where tactile surfaces meet clean lines and a white-based palette.
“The brief for this Chelsea townhouse was to create a timeless interior scheme in soft, calming shades,” says Katerina Tchevytchalova, director of K’Arte Design. “The palette was chosen for its sophisticated appeal and versatility, allowing the space to evolve with the family’s changing needs and style. Longevity was key – the design needed to feel enduring rather than trend-led, offering flexibility as the home grows with its owners. Rounded forms, soft edges, and natural materials bring an organic quality that balances form and function.”
Lavishly tactile bathroom
If you want your guest bathroom to feel like a Zen, natural oasis, texture is the way to go. Keep the palette neutral to evoke that feeling of wellness and tranquillity, but add a variety of materials for an effortlessly organic scheme. “Softly layered in a neutral palette, our Rosedale House guest bathroom pairs understated elegance with thoughtful functionality,” says Pia Pelkonen, creative director of Pia Design.
“The tonal wall tiles from Mandarin Stone add warmth and movement, enhanced by brushed brass fixtures that lend a refined, modern touch. A natural wood vanity anchors the space, bringing in organic texture. Balancing beauty and practicality, this room reflects our signature blend of quiet luxury and timeless design.”
Quiet luxury
Unassuming yet elegant natural materials will add texture and help a neutral bathroom look luxurious with very little effort. But it doesn’t have to be marble. Try travertine – which is growing in popularity – or oak, and pair it with shimmering metallic brassware for extra glamour. Like in this bathroom by Harp & Bright, which includes a striking travertine bathtub from Lusso. “This tranquil attic ensuite is a celebration of the beauty and versatility of a neutral palette,” says Mike Whitfield, luxury interior expert at Lusso.
“Our Muse Travertine bath, with its gently honed curves and natural stone veining, acts as a beautiful centrepiece and a statement of quiet luxury. The use of warm oak cabinetry introduces a tactile, organic quality, while brushed gold accents complement the warm, natural tones and catch the light with an understated elegance. Together, these elements create a space that feels effortlessly refined, proving that neutrals, when layered with texture and tone, can be every bit as impactful as a bold colour palette.”
Homely, but stunning bathroom design
Break up a crisp white scheme with cosy panelling, pastel touches, and marble or marble-effect surfaces, like in this design by Simply Bathrooms & Interiors. Here, panelling on the wall and the bathtub achieve a homely look, while the wood flooring completes the warm design. The screen on the bath provides extra comfort and maintains the bathroom’s open feel.
“As part of a bathroom renovation project within a listed cottage, Simply Bathrooms included a View 14 two-panel hinged bath screen by The Shower Lab, in Brushed Gold, with clear glass that avoided disrupting the soft pink hue throughout,” says Dileep Arulmoli, commercial and operations director at The Shower Lab. “It’s a seamless blend of old and new.”
Period elegance
Colours such as pastel pinks and light greys are a great way to retain the aesthetic of a majestic bathroom in a period property. Follow the lead of this Grade II listed building, where Kelling Designs took on the project of designing a palatial primary suite that respects and even celebrates the roots of the property. “This bathroom is in a stately home so we wanted to be sensitive to the surroundings,” says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director of Kelling Designs.
“We opted for a palette of warm neutrals and soft pinks to create a calming and harmonious scheme that would complement the architecture and create an inviting and intimate bathroom – even though the room was unusually large.
“We worked closely with the architects to create bespoke, built-in joinery that helped zone the bathroom, separating the custom vanity from the bathtub, with all sanitaryware also being designed and created especially for this project. The result is a tranquil and timeless bathroom that is sensitive to the age of the property, whilst also being practical and functional for modern-day living.”
Pared-back personality
Combine a pared-back shade with minimal, patterned flooring or marble details to create interest. In this project by interior designer Jo Wilkinson, the scheme is underpinned by a muted green. “This heritage-inspired tone brings a sense of calm,” says Keeley Sutcliffe, design manager at BC Designs.
“By painting both the walls and the bath in the same shade, the look feels immersive and cohesive, allowing the tub’s classic roll-top silhouette to shine. The palette may be soft, but it’s far from one-note. Patterned floor tiles and marble-effect walls introduce texture and movement, while touches of polished brass add warmth and contrast.”
Art Deco glamour
Who says eye-catching patterns aren’t allowed in a neutral bathroom? When combined with cream or pastel shades, a bold geometric motif will add a stylish detail, preventing the scheme from looking unimaginative. Take a cue from this design by The Mint List, which beautifully incorporates an Art Deco-inspired maze.
“This space was a guest bathroom in a loft conversion that we designed for a family that loves to entertain and often has family and friends staying over,” says Camilla Kelly, founder of The Mint List.
“We wanted to introduce an unexpected design feature that would make you smile when you opened the door. The guest suite itself was designed in calm neutral tones so it would not have made sense to include a bold colour in the bathroom. Instead, we found these fabulous tiles that, when put together in different configurations, created a geometric maze on the walls, giving the room a quirky, contemporary twist which the homeowners absolutely loved.”
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